text: There are many proposed applications for the boron-based carborane acids.  For instance, they have been proposed as catalysts for hydrocarbon cracking and isomerization of n-alkanes to form branched isoalkanes ("isooctane", for example).  Carborane acids may also be used as strong, selective Brønsted acids for fine chemical synthesis, where the low nucleophilicity of the counteranion may be advantageous.  In mechanistic organic chemistry, they may be used in the study of reactive cationic intermediates. In inorganic synthesis, their unparalleled acidity may allow for the isolation of exotic species like salts of protonated xenon.